Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering)

Fast track role A high priority role with an accelerated joining process.
Service:Surface Fleet
Branch:Engineering
Level:Rating,Apprenticeship
Technology
Engineering
Mechanics
Mechanic
Marine Engineer fixing equipment
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At a glance

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6 weeks

Of paid holiday every year

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£21,000+

The minimum you’ll earn after training

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Zero

Qualifications needed

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NVQs

Get funding for qualifications

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£54,000+

Earn over this amount as you progress

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Travel

All around the world

What you’ll do

Being an Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) means being pivotal to day-to-day operations. You’ll ensure our state-of-the-art warships are powered, maintained and ready for action. Wherever you are, whatever the problem: you’ll be finding innovative and resourceful solutions for fixing it. From day one you’ll be on the way to becoming a world-class engineer, working in some of the most challenging environments imaginable.

If you have questions, talk to us

call us 0345 607 55 55

Your role

  • Be a key part of the immense engineering effort that goes into powering our ships, keeping every operation on track and making some essential missions possible.
  • Find innovative and resourceful solutions to complex problems, applying the engineering skills and knowledge you gain, in a world where there is no such thing as standard. 
  • Get your hands on some of the most sophisticated equipment on the planet, working with your team, under the guidance of the Marine Engineer Officer.
  • Complete daily rounds, checking equipment to ensure the ship remains operational. You’ll need to be precise and pay attention to detail, because even the smallest mistake can have a big impact on the rest of the ship.

What you’ll get

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • A Level 2 Apprenticeship in Performing Engineering Operations.

Opportunities open to you

  • Study for GCSEs, then A-Levels in subjects including English, Maths and Science. 
  • Gain specialist vocational such as a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Engineering Manufacturing. 
  • Eventually, you can work toward a degree like Mechanical Engineering, depending on your career progression.

Skills you'll develop

  • Use your natural aptitude for fixing things – on a massive scale. 
  • Learn to maintain and operate some of the most cutting-edge kit on the planet and become familiar with a variety of sophisticated mechanical system.
  • That might mean working on one of our new Type 45 destroyers, the most advanced warships the nation has ever built. 
     

Career progression

Phase one training

10 weeks at HMS Raleigh, learning basic military skills

Phase two training

Develop your professional skills, and earn NVQs

First year

Complete your journal and learn on the job

First promotion – Leading Hand

Further training, more responsibility, lead junior ratings

Second promotion – Petty Officer

Become a manager, take responsibility for defect diagnosis

What you'll need

Eligibility

  • You must be aged between 16 to 39
  • No qualifications are required for this role
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     

Skills and interests

  • A quick thinker, with a passion for working with the latest equipment and technology
  • A problem-solver, with a common sense approach, who can work well as part of a team
  • A real sense of adventure, with a high level of physical and mental fitness
  • Enthusiasm for fixing and maintaining electronic and mechanical systems

 

Check Eligibility

Joining process

Joining process

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

  • Submit an application 

    Once you’ve registered your interest, we’ll be in touch to discuss your options

  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) 

    You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
    To prepare, you can practise the DAA

  • Interview 

    A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform

  • Medical and eye tests 

    These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

  • Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) 

    This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near

  • Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

        This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and a fitness assessment, is a pass or fail course

  • Start training 

        Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

more about the joining process

Find out more

Initial training

Your Royal Navy career begins with 10 weeks basic training at HMS Raleigh, a shore base in Torpoint, Cornwall. The discipline, teamwork, organisational, firefighting and weapon handling skills you learn here will stay with you right through your career.

Aim to get yourself as fit as possible before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.

more about initial training

Find out more

Professional training

Once you have the essential military and maritime skills under your belt, it’s time to start your specialist training. As an Engineering Technician you will be embarking on one of the country’s top Modern Apprenticeship Schemes, beginning with four months of engineering training at HMS Sultan, focussing on:

  • Learning how machinery works 
  • Safety procedures
  • Repairing equipment
  • Making components
  • Using essential tools and techniques

more about professional training

Find out more

Request your application
Register your interest
Call 0345 607 55 55
Find your local AFCO

Need more information?

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